Astros GM has sales pitch for the right free agent

2of 2Agent Scott Boras sits on stage with his client, newly signed Houston Astros pitcher Mark Appel during a news conference Wednesday, June 19, 2013 in Houston, to announce his signing. Appel was selected with the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Photo: David J. Phillip, STF

ORLANDO, Fla. - Three consecutive seasons of triple-digit losses haven't deterred player interest in the Astros.

Player agents know there's a light at the end of the tunnel for the Astros. One agent at the general managers' meetings spoke Wednesday of the attractiveness of opportunity. Coming to Houston, he said, could give a free agent a chance to play a prominent role, something other teams might not be able to offer.

"It's a double-edged sword," Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said. "Someone looking to win a World Series title next year may not think about the Astros as the first place to go sign. But having said that, we also have an opportunity. Jose Veras signed with us (last year) because he could be the closer. As of right now, we're going into next year with that role in competition. There's a lot of other clubs that don't have that. You can be a starter in our rotation, potentially be an everyday outfielder on our club. You can be the guy.

"We play indoors. We play in a controlled environment where you know you're going to play every night. It's in the middle of the country. There are no state taxes. There's a lot of attractive reasons."

Question of priorities

An agent acknowledged Houston could end up a destination for players who boil down to reclamation projects, guys who might slip through the cracks until late in the offseason and need a chance to re-establish their careers. But a lot depends on the player. What's important to him - being on a winner or somewhere where he matters?

Agents know the Astros are willing to spend, and they feel - just as the club does - that the team soon will be on an upswing. One agent compared the Astros to an up-and-coming version of the Tampa Bay Rays.

"That would be a positive one, yeah," agent Scott Boras said Wednesday when asked about the Astros' declared intention to spend this winter. "The Astros are … they're like Disneyland. If the kids come, it's a great attraction."

Boras and the Astros are planning to meet. Shin-Soo Choo, one of the top outfielders available is a Boras client.

Just how much the Astros are willing to spend isn't known. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said during the GM meetings that New York is unlikely to hand out a $100 million contract. When Luhnow was asked in that context if the Astros could do something major, he did not rule it out.

"I don't see why not," Luhnow said. "If it's the right situation for the right player, the right length of years. Houston's a big city. We've got the capacity to compete with the big boys ultimately, and whether or not we start this year or next year after that, I think eventually it's coming. It's a matter of being opportunistic and recognizing what the right time is."

Boras tweaks his tune

Boras was critical of the Astros in March, suggesting the team was intentionally tanking to secure a No. 1 draft pick. The Astros do have the top overall draft pick again in 2014 after taking Boras client Mark Appel with the top pick in 2013.

Boras maintains the system needs to be changed, but he spoke positively of the organization on Wednesday.

"Any team that is in a major market, which Houston is, they have to have a plan," Boras said. "I think the reality of it is, particularly with new ownership, you're going to get a honeymoon period to execute the plan. The question is, do they come out and be a winner right away with what they were left with? And the answer was no. So for them to re-create a design for a few years, that is a stride toward winning.

"The question always is, is (losing) to get the draft picks only? That's why the system needs to be changed. You can't have a system where you can have a direct relationship between your performance the prior season and your draft pick the next."

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